College and Career Tips
- College Research & Visits
- Career Exploration
- College Credit & Transcripts
- Application Platforms & Deadlines
- Financial & Fee Information
- College Application Tips
- Resources & Tools
College Research & Visits
The College Tour is a TV series brought to you by Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning producers. The series tells the story of colleges and universities around the world. Each episode of The College Tour will focus on a single college or university. From campus life, academics, housing, sports, activities, and much more… each student driven segment will give young people an inside look at what it’s truly like being a student at the featured college or university.
Juniors and Seniors are gifted two (2) college days each school year. Unused college days do not roll over.
When you arrive at the college or when your complete your campus tour, make sure to have this document signed by an admissions representative at the college. Bring this form back to attendance for your absence to be excused as a College Day.
Career Exploration
Texas Children’s is pleased to announce the launch of an innovative, on-demand video series targeting over 20 selected healthcare job roles from entry level certification positions to careers requiring doctorate degrees. The videos are published to our Texas Children’s Hospital YouTube channel. To access all available content anytime, anywhere, simply click the link below.
Welcome to Career Star, Discover majors and in-demand careers and education based on your interests!
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Take a Career Assessment to learn about yourself and Career Coach will give you career suggestions based on your interests.
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Browse or search for careers and we will give you relevant data on wages, employment, and the training you need.
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Browse or search for the available Programs of Study that lead to the career you want.
Check out these tips from SMU to help you succeed.
My Next Move is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, and developed by the National Center for O*NET Development. This is an online tool you can use to browse careers by key words, industry or what you enjoy doing.
College Credit & Transcripts
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You may order official transcripts (sent directly to the college from CFISD) through this link.
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Don't forget to order your final transcript for the college you’ll be attending in May before graduation. The Cypress Woods registrar’s office is not open during the summer months and colleges may not allow you to begin classes until they receive your final transcript from high school.
If you have completed Dual Credit courses, you will need to send the college you are applying to a copy of your Lone Star transcript. View instructions. The Cypress Woods Registrar does not send Lone Star transcripts to colleges and universities.
Application Platforms & Deadlines
An overview prior to completing applications.
Common App
Update for Class of 2025: The Common App is currently ready for you to create an account, but on August 1, 2024 your information will roll over to the new application cycle.
Click on the link to search for colleges that use The Common App as well as to begin your application: The Common Application
Apply Texas
Update for class of 2025: Apply Texas will open on July 1, 2024 for you to create an account and begin working on your applications. Texas A&M will start accepting applications on August 1. The University of Texas at Austin will start accepting applications on August 1.
Financial & Fee Information
College application fee waivers can remove the cost of applying to college. Use this tool to see if you are eligible and learn how to apply for application fee waivers.
Learn more about who qualifies for application fee waivers.
College Application Tips
Here is a short list of tips to help parents prepare to assist their student in the college search and application process.
This is a "buzzword" in college admissions, but what is it? Colleges want to know you are interested in them, and that the chances are high that if you were to be accepted, you would enroll there. You don't need to travel to each campus though as there are other ways to show interest. Pay attention to Number 10!
...and your Instagram captions and your Facebook posts and the Tumblr you abandoned three years ago. Social media is a powerful platform to present your unique personality and interests to colleges, coaches, and other gatekeepers for jobs and internships. What does your online presence tell that audience about you?
Know what it takes to be successful before you step into your first college class.
Fine more resume tips here.
Some colleges will allow you, or even require you, to upload an expanded resume as part of your application, but what does one look like? They are quite different from a business resume.
Take a look at Bevo's resume for the University of Texas.
You might consider giving this form to your teacher. This is a SHORTER version of the Wildcat Resume, and it contains prompts that will help your teacher write an AMAZING letter for you.
Colleges handle letters of recommendation differently. Some colleges would like the letter mailed directly to the college, some will allow you to upload the letter to your student portal, and some colleges do not want letters at all. It is important to read the directions carefully and ask questions if you are confused.
Allow the recommender three weeks to prepare the letter. Do not wait until the deadline and expect to receive a strong letter of recommendation.
View the steps on obtaining letters of recommendation.
Resources & Tools
An overview prior to completing applications
Plan your path to college. CollegeData's goal is to help students make informed decisions about college.
You can sign up for full, no cost access to a comprehensive suite of college-planning tools, newsletters, and articles designed to help you to learn how to prepare, apply, and pay for college!
See how much $$ you will need to earn to enjoy the lifestyle you hope to have.
A free resource to help students plan for the future. Students can explore regional, in-demand careers, take a 5 minute career interest quiz, and explore careers and college programs.
There are many versions of this spreadsheet on the internet. The point is to keep all deadlines and requirements organized. If you are applying to several schools, there is a lot of information to track. Don't miss out on opportunities because you missed a deadline.
While the idea of a "good" college is somewhat faulty, sometimes students and parents just need a place to start the college search.
Check out College Navigator.
This is a great tool which allows you to search by majors offered, location, institution type and more.
This resource provides guidance to students on what writing questions they can expect within individual college questions!